Suction-creating mechanism for vacuum cleaning apparatus.



.J.SGHIRRA. SUCTION CREATING MECHANISM FOR VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 17, 1912.

1 JfifififiQ. Patented Aug. 11, 19114,.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

. WHTNESSES 0 M a M.

J. SCHIRRA. SUCTION CREATING MECHANISM FOR VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 17, 1912. 1 1 g g, Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I ATTORNEYS Juries scmnnn, or rrr'rsnumn,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR .TO HAND VACUUM SWEEPER COMPANY, OF IPiTTSBURGH,PENNSYLVAMA, A CORPORATION, OF PENN- -SYLVANIA.

SUCTION-CREATING MECHANISM FOR VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pflttgjmfljdi Aug, 11, 19114,,

Application filed April 17, 1912. Serial No. 691,484.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JULIUs SoHrnnA, a citizenof theUnit-ed States of-Amerlca, re-

siding at Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Alle-y 'gheny and State ofPennsylvania, have. in-

vented certain new and useful Improve- 1-911, No. 1,008,205, the presentinvention latter construction 1s such as to ments in Suction-CreatingMechanism for Vacuum Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to iinprovementsin vacuum cleaning apparatus andrelates more particularly to a cOIlStI'llCtlOdQf this type operated onthe general principles set forth 1n the patent granted .to me November14,;

1911, No.-1,008,865, in the provision of an apparatus which can be usedas an attach. ment to a carpet sweeper or be used -lnde pendentlythereof, either when attached to,

or entirely disconnected from the sweeper.

Inthe construction shown in the said pat ent, the suction providingelement is'in the form of a'collapsible or bellows structure, thespecific type of which isbest indicated in the patent granted 'to meNovember 7,

being shown as of the type disclosed in this patent, it being understoodthat. the be applicable for use in the manner indicated in either ofthese patents.

i which isv capable of use to roduce a suction Among the objects of myinvention areto provide a construction which is substantiallynon-collapsible,,inwhich the sweeper handle forms 'asupport member ofthe suction device. reciprocates to. provide the suction action;toprovlde a novel form of movable member for the suc-' tiqn device; toprovide a. novel form of ha dle-and support; to provide a structure inwhich. the handle may be attached .to'difterent-types of sweepers, toprovide. a device in onefdirection only of t emovable member. of thedevice, orin both d1rect1ons of its movement; and to provide aconstruction whlch isattractive in. appearance, durable inconstruction,and which can be manufactured relatively low cost."

.o.:'these.and other ends, the nature of which will be readilyunderstood as the invention hereina ter. disclosed, said inventionconsists in i the improved cons truction and combination of here nafiterfully form of my device,

on which the movable.

similar reference charactersindicate similar 7 parts in each of theviews-Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional v1ew of one showingit applied to a suction nozzle. Fi 2 is a similar view showing thedevice a apted for use in providing a suction in both directions ofmovement of the movable member. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view takenon the line IIIII][ of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion ofthe handle and of the sleeve which coiiperates therewith. Fi 5 is adetail. view partly in section of the member of the suction device. Fig.6 is a sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fi 2 Fig. 7 is a detailview of the lower en of the-handle showing the manner in which thelatter may be attached to a sweeper bail of the type having nothreadsfor "engagement of the handle.

The apparatus indicated generally at 10 comprises a suction device 11,-a suction head 12,.and a dust receptacle 13, the head shown in thedrawings being of the type disclosed in'the Patent No. 1,008,205heretofore .referred to, it being understood, however that the form ofhead and the connection between it and the suction device may be of thetype shown in the patent granted to me, N 0. 1,008,865 referred to. Thedust receptacle is similar to thatshown in said patent, the principalvariation from the disclosure of said patent bein in the form of thesuction device itself, w ich, as shown in- Figs. 1

and 2 may be employed. in connection with movable either. an apparatusadapted to work in but F one direction of movement of the movable memberor jn'both directions.

In the. present form of my device, employing that shown in Fi 1 asanexam le, I emplo a tubular mem er, 14, refera hly ofmeta althoughother materia s may be used, ,said member having its forward end closedby a cap 15 having an inlet port 16 and an outlet port 17, the forwardface of ;-the cap being provided with nozzles 18, 18

theformer being adapted to receive the connection from the suction head,while the nozzle 18 is formed for the connection of the dust receptacleAs shown, the ports '16 and 17 are controlled by suitable valves 19properly located to provide the action necessary for the operation ofthe apparatus. The cap is also-provided with a central opening 20through which the fori' ward end of the handle or support 21 extends,the handle havinga shoulder 22 which is adapted. to abut against theinner face of the cap to close the opening.

The handle or support 21 is preferably formed in three parts, theforward and rear portions being preferably of wood, these portions beingconnected by a sleeve 22 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this constructionhaving the double purpose of strengthening the handle within the member14 and also insuring that the portion of the handle on which the movablemember travels is straight, limiting the liability of the parts becomingdiflicnltto operate through-warping or other action of the handle. Therear of the tubular member may be closed by a cap 23, as shown in Fig.1, or a closure 23" as shown in Fig. 2, the cap 23 being capable ofbeing removed when desired.

The movable member shown in detail in Fig. 5 is in the form of a piston,comprising a hollow member 24 having an annular groove 25 adapted toreceive a resilient packing preferably in the form of a tubular hosesuction 26 resting withinthe groove and the outer covering 27 thereof,the latter being held in place by suitable securin means such as cordsor threads 28. Extem ing axially through the member 24 is a tubularmember 29, said member extending rcarwardly from the piston and being ofa length to project from the cap 23 a suitable distance along the handle21, said member 29 being adapted to'slide upon the handle and the sleeve22 in providing reciprocations of the piston. If desired, suitablepacking may be placed between the sleeve -..22 and the member 29 toreduce noise which might arise through the contact of the two metallicmembers 22 and 29 during the movements of I the piston in the casing orcylinder 14. To

prevent leakage, suitable pa-c ing 30 may be carried'by the ca 23 or 23,the'forward end of the ban is is preferably screw-' threaded to. permitof itsattachment to the complemental threads of a bail of a carpetsweeper. Since, however, some types of sweepers do not have 'theparticular type of fastener provided by the threads, I preferablyprovide a- .screw-threaded opening leading axially from the forward endof the handle, this opening, designated at 31 in Fig. 7, being adaptedto receive a suitable member 32, such as a screw which, as shown in Fig.7, acts to secure the handle to the hail of the sweeper. 4

p The general action of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is similar .tothat shown in the patents referred to, viz: A relative movement 21 in amanner similar to that employed in Fig.

of the handle 21 and the member 29 in the direction of length of thehandle provides the suction action or the discharge action dependingupon the direction in which this movement is had. Where the device iscarried by the sweeper and cooperates therewith, such relative movementmay be obtained by simply holding the member 29 against movement andoperating the handle 7 5 moving the sweeper over the carpet, this actioncausing the cylinder or casing to travel with the sweeper while thepiston remains stationary with respect to the operator, the effectbeing, however, to provide the relative movement of handle and member29. Obviously, if the member 29 is not held, the movements of the handlewill simply operate the sweeper without providing any suction efi'ect.Where 'the device is employed with the suction head alone, as in 1, asimilar action in moving the head over the floor and holding the member29 stationary will provide the suction efiect, or a retaining of thehandle stationary with a movement of the member 29 will cause thesuction effect to be provided while the head remains at a fixed point;in'either instance therelative movement of these two parts is provided.

In Fig. 2 I-have shown a somewhat simi lar apparatus designed for asuction action in both directions of relative reciprocation of thecylinder and piston. In this form, both caps 15 and 23 are provided withthe ported openings, a passageway 33 connecting the suction head withthe rear of the cylinder, and the passageway 34 leading from suchcylinder rear end to the dust collector.

In operation, the forward movement of the piston in the cylinder acts todraw the dust ractically through the suction head and t e passageway 33into the cylinder in rear of the piston, at the same time driving thedust particles in front of the piston 1nto the dust collector. Asucceeding movement of the piston in the opposite direction closestheentrance to the passageway 33 and opens that to the passageway 34,resulting in dis-- charging the dust particles from the rear of thepiston into the dust collector and drawing in the dust particles fromthe suction head into the space in front of the piston, providing acontinuous suction whenever 120 relative movement is had between themember 29 and the handle. J y

The advantages of the construction herein disclosed are readilyperceived. The-piston is guided both by t e casing 14 and the handlethrough the member 29, insuring a smooth movement of thepiston throughthe casing with the'requirement of a minimum amount of power regardlessof the'particular direction in which the pressure is .ap-

plied, the particular structure of the packing of the piston serving tocause the piston to operate with the maximum effect; by the particularconstruction of the handle, this effect is increased, since the bindingof handle and member is practically eliminated.

As Will be obvious, the device is one which is of relatively low cost inmanufacture, at the same time providing for maximum efiiciency,durabilit and simplicity.

While I have herein shown and described several ways in which yinvention will be carried into effect, it Wi ,be readily understood thatchanges and modifications therein maybe desired or required to meet theexiencies of particular usage, and I desire it to e understood that Ireserve the right to make any and all such changes and modificationstherein as may be so required or desired, in so far as the same may fallWithin the spirit and scope of the invention as eX-' pressed in theaccompanying claims.

Having thus described my-invention, What I claim as new is 1. In vacuumcleaning apparatus, a handle, a sleeve carried by and movablelongitudinally of the handle and having a piston thereon atapproximately its forward end, and a cylinder of substantially fixeddimensions secured at its forward end to said handle, and having itsrear end mounted on said sleeve in rear of the piston, said piston andcylinder cooperating to provide a suction-creating device upon relativereciprocation of handle and sleeve, said sleeve extending axially of andthrough the rear end of the cylinder and being movable relatively tosuch end.

2. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, a bandle, a sleeve carried by andmovable longitudinally of the handle and having a piston thereonapproximate its forward end, and a cylinder of substantially fixeddimensions secured at its forward end to said handle and having its rearend mounted on said sleeve in rear of the piston, said piston andcylinder cooperating to provide a suction-creating device upon relativereciprocation of handle and sleeve, said sleeve extending axially of andthrough the rear end of the cylinder and being movable relatively tosuch end, said handle having a tubular portion intermediate its ends andforming a guide to retain the axial alinement of the piston.

3. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, a bandle, a sleeve carried by andmovable longitudinally of the handle and having a piston thereonapproximate its forward end, and a cylinder of substantially fixeddimensions secured at its forward end to said handle and having its rearend mounted on said sleeve in rear of the piston, said piston andcylinder cooperating to rovide a suction-creating device upon rdlativereciprocation of handle and sleeve, said sleeve extending axially of andthrough the rear end of the cylinder and being movable relatively tosuch end, said handle having a tubular por tion intermediate its endsand forming a guide to retain the axial alinement of the piston, thelength of said tubular portion being substantially equal to the lengthof travel of the'piston.

4. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, a bandle, a sleeve carried by andmovable longitudinally of the handle and having a piston thereonapproximate its forward end, and a cylinder of substantially fixeddimensions secured at its forward end-to said handle and having its rearend mounted on said sleeve in rear of the piston, said piston and cylinder cooperating to provide asuction-creating device upon relativereciprocation of handle and sleeve, said sleeve extending axially of andthrough the rear end of the cylinder and being movable relatively tosuch end, said piston having a peripheral yielding packing including aresilient tubular member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JULIUS SOHIRRA.

Witnesses:

-MAX H. SROLOVITZ, HORACE G. SEITZ.

